Advice Please!

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A7X

A7X

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I'm taking a look at someone's pc for them as when xp loads there is no taskbar or desktop icons (basically explorer isn't running). I can't get explorer started by ctrl+alt+del'ing opening task manager and starting a new explorer.exe task either.

As i'm trying to rescue a few photo's and files for them as they now have a new pc i thought i would put their HDD into my external HDD case and try to run it as an external on my computer and either just rescue the files or run my anti-virus through it. After installing the new device drivers i went to "my computer" where it then hung. I could still run my antivirus so tried a scan which subsequently would not start, so i turned off the external and everything unfroze and began working again.

I then tried again through command prompt and in safe mode but the same thing happened again :grumpy:

While it was in their computer i tried a repair install and system restore but no difference.

They have 2 HDD and both do the same!

Any suggestions or is it a reinstall job (which is pretty pointless considering i'm trying to rescue the files not get the pc working again)

Two more things the second core on my quad was maxed out when the "my computer" hung. I'm running vista 64 premium and the other pc had xp home.
 
As you only want to rescue files, it might be helpful to use a Linux Live CD to boot up from. However, the only problem with this is that you need something to read Microsoft's NTFS file system in order to access and take files away.

One Open Source program that will do this is http://www.ntfs-3g.org/. I am not sure if this is the only one of its kind, but it is part of the Gusty Ubuntu's programs when you download their Live CD. Therefore this option should be enough, albiet it may take a while to download 700 MB.

However, in your case, it may be best to download a small, lightweight Operating System, such as "Damn Small Linux" (50MB), "Puppy Linux" (75MB or thereabouts) and others that are available in DistroWatch.org site. Only problem with the small lightweight systems is that they are not that likely to have NTFS reader inside them which kinda defeats the purpose actually...But once you have downloaded the smaller versions, you should be able to download the NTFS reader, put them both on the same USB stick and be able to activate the OS in the computer and also be able to run the NTFS file reader as well. The last sentance is me assuming, so only do this as last resort:)

You will need to configure your mate's computer to boot from either a USB port or a CD/DVD drive to make it run first not the hard disc drive. The way to do this is from the BIOS section of the computer, which you activate at the boot-up screen, by pressing ESC, F5 or whatever the screen tells you to activate Setup/Boot-Up/Whatever (as there are many varieties of words to describe it).

I hope this helps if the Windows CD is unable to system restore or repair it.
 
I would think that there's a file on the drive that explorer doesn't like. It could be a corrupt "Thumbs.Db" file, or somesuch. Can you get a directory listing off the drive in the command prompt?
 
Submerged - i have a ubuntu boot disk so i'l get some ntfs drivers and give it a go! never thought of that so cheers 👍

Flerbizky - differen't size hdd's and their running on IDE so raid's outta the window

GG - after typing G: in command prompt it moves down a line and hangs with a flashing cursor so i can't even access it.

Thanks for the help guys! i'm gonna try the linix boot disk later on and see how it goes. If any of you have any other suggestions though there welcome as i'm no linux genius.
 
Just make sure that you have the latest Ubuntu version, as I understand that Gusty Gibbon Ubuntu (7.10) comes with ntfs drivers as standard. I have Feisty Fawn Ubuntu (7.04 iirc) which did not come with ntfs drivers. The latest, stable release I mean, not Hardy Heron Ubuntu! That's slightly too new and is under development.

With Ubuntu, it is generally graphical point and click stuff on the Live CD. If you do need more complex pointers, it is best to go to the ubuntuforums.org to do a search for and read up. They do have a ton of very useful information, especially about how it works and the terminal (MS-DOS) way of doing things.

I hope this all helps:)
 
its an old ubuntu version so looks like il have to get the new one. I did run it for a while on a dual boot system but dropped it after i could not get the wireless link to work which made it essentially pointless so i just use it as a live cd.

Off to get new version now!
 
Sorted! Gusty Gibbon did the trick after fiddling around and forcing the drives to mount. Pretty weird though. turns out both had xp installs on them but with differing files and user accounts and it was only one of the disks causing the lack of explorer, the other when booted (used to be slave) worked nicely. Anyway got the files and reformatted, just waiting too see what they want to do with it now they've got a new pc. I now fancy putting together a basic system to just run linux on as it does come in handy!

Off topic: how well does linux handle raid? it's just i'm running raid 0 and might consider dual booting if i could install on the raid disks (vista's on a seperate WD raptor) as i like keeping windows on a seperate drive to any applications and other files etc.

Cheers for the help everyone!
 

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